Nonlocal Spin Transport in Lateral Spin Valves with Multiple Ferromagnetic Electrodes

TL;DR

This paper investigates nonlocal spin transport in lateral spin valves with multiple ferromagnetic electrodes, analyzing how electrode configurations affect spin signal states and aligning theoretical predictions with experimental results.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical framework for understanding nonlocal spin signals in multi-electrode spin valves, highlighting the influence of electrode arrangement and material properties.

Findings

Maximum of four nonlocal spin signal states with multiple FM electrodes

Number of observable states depends on electrode spacing and spin resistances

Theoretical results match experimental data on various materials

Abstract

We study the nonlocal spin transport in a lateral spin valve with multiple ferromagnetic (FM) electrodes. When two current-injecting and two spin current-detecting electrodes are all ferromagnetic, the number of possible nonlocal spin signal states is four at maximum. In reality, this number is reduced, depending on the inter-probe distance and the relative magnitudes of the spin resistances. Our theoretical results are in agreement with recent experiments of spin injection into an Al island, a carbon nanotube, and graphene.